European Journal of Scientific Research

ISSN 1450-216X Vol.43 No.4 (2010), pp.563-570

© EuroJournals Publishing, Inc. 2010
http://www.eurojournals.com/ejsr.htm

Study of Performance and Emission Characteristics of a

Diesel Engine using Thevetia Peruviana Biodiesel with
Diethyl Ether Blends

T.K.Kannan
Research Scholar, Department of Mech
K.S.R.College of Engineering, iruchengode, Namakkal(Dt)

R.Marappan
Director(Academic), Paavai Engineering college,Pachal,Namakkal(Dt)

Abstract

Diesel engines are widely used in almost all walks of life and cannot be dispensed
with in the near future. But diesel engine emissions like nitrogen oxide (NOx) and soot
particles are detrimental to human health and to the environment as a whole. Alternative
fuels like biodiesel, ethanol, etc. are being used as effective replacements for diesel.
Though biodiesel can replace diesel satisfactorily, problems related to emission persist. In
this study an oxygenated additive diethyl ether (DEE) was blended with bio diesel in the
ratios of 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% and tested for their performance. From the detailed study
it has been concluded that the blending ratio of 20% gives better performance and lesser
emissions than other combinations.

Keywords: Diesel Engine, Thevetia peruviana biodiesel, Diethyl Ether blends, Emissions

1. Introduction
The depletion of petroleum reserves and ever growing vehicle population makes it important to find
alternative fuels. Harmful emissions like nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter from the diesel
engines are detrimental to the environment as well as to the human being which adds to the problem.
Alternative fuels like biodiesel, etc. are getting importance due to their performance and emission
characteristics. Vegetable oil methyl esters (Biodiesel) give performance and emission characteristics
that are closer to that of diesel fuel [1]. They are bio degradable, non toxic and possess low emission
profiles [2]. Biodiesel is a renewable one having comparable calorific value with diesel. It contains no
sulphur, no aroma but has a higher cetane number. It emits carbon monoxide (CO) and unburnt
hydrocarbons (HC) significantly less. However the NOx emission is higher compared to diesel due to
higher oxygen content.
Diethyl ether (DEE), an oxygenated additive can be added to diesel/ biodiesel fuels to suppress
the NOx emission. DEE is an excellent ignition enhancer and has a low auto ignition temperature [3].It
is an aid for cold starting and ignition improver for diesel water emulsion [4]. Iranmanesh et al. found
that 5% of DEE with diesel blend was the most effective combination based on performance and
emission characteristics [5]. Various researchers tried the blends of DEE with biodiesel to reduce
Study of Performance and Emission Characteristics of a Diesel Engine
using Thevetia Peruviana Biodiesel with
Diethyl Ether blends 564

emissions. The addition of DEE with rubber seed biodiesel in lower percentage improved the engine
performance and emission characteristics [6]. This has again been agreed that 15% DEE with Karanja
oil methyl ester blend is the effective combination [7]. Pugazhvadivu et al. found that 15% to 20% of
DEE addition was more beneficial in reducing NOx compared to 10% DEE by using the combination
of Diesel, Pongamia biodiesel and diethyl ether as fuel [8]. Use of metal based additive such as Mgo
combined with oxygenated additive (Palm – polyol) was found reducing exhaust emissions especially
for NOx from biodiesel, diesel blended fuel combustion [9].In this research, biodiesel has been
prepared from the seeds of Thevetia peruviana plants called yellow oleander. Balusamy et al. found
that the engine performance with the biodiesel of Thevetia puruviana was comparable to that of diesel.
CO, HC emissions were less but NOx and smoke are slightly higher than that of diesel [10]. In this
research, DEE was added in the ratio of 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% to the Thevetia Peruviana biodiesel to
reduce the NOx and smoke simultaneously and the optimum blending ratio was found out.

2. Experimental Details
A computerized kirloskar diesel engine of AV1 model, four stroke, direct injection, naturally aspirated,
water cooled engine was utilized to investigate this study. The engine specifications are listed in
Table.1. The diesel engine was coupled with an eddy current dynamometer and a data acquisition
system, so that the data can be saved. A five gas AVL analyzer was used to measure the emission
characteristics. Smoke opacity has been measured using the AVL smoke meter.

Table 1: Specification of the Diesel Engine

No. of cylinders 1
Bore 80 mm
Stroke 110 mm
Compression ratio 16.5:1
Rated power 3.7 kW
Injection pressure 200 bar
Rated speed 1500 rpm
Injection timing 23ْ bTDC

Thevetia Peruviana Biodiesel (TPBD) was prepared in the laboratory using the seed oil of the
plant. 5g of NaoH per litre of oil was mixed with 160 ml of methyl alcohol to produce methoxide. Oil
was heated to 600C and the prepared methoxide was poured in to the oil. The reaction was allowed for
one hour and the final products were allowed to settle in the separating funnel overnight. Using
distilled water, the biodiesel was washed four or five times to remove the impurities. The properties of
biodiesel were listed in Table 2 as given below.

Table 2: Properties of biodiesel

Viscosity ( Cst) 6.0

Density ( kg/ m3) 860
Flash point ( ْC) 160
Fire point( ْC) 172
Calorific Value(kJ/kg) 41032

DEE was added in the ratios of 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% with biodiesel by volume. The
properties of blended fuels are given below. The experiments were conducted in different loads like no
565 T.K.Kannan and R.Marappan

load, 25%, 50% and 75% of full load and full load. Similar experiments were done with diesel and
pure biodiesel so as to make a comparison.

Table 3: Properties of blended fuels

Type of fuel Density kg/ m3 Calorific value kJ/ kg

TPBD 860 41032
DEE 713 33890
TPBD+ 5%DEE 853 40725
TPBD+ 10%DEE 845 40427
TPBD+ 15%DEE 838 40124
TPBD+ 20%DEE 832 39802

3. Results and Discussions

3.1. Brake Thermal Efficiency (BTE)
The variations of brake thermal efficiencies at different loads for various combinations have been
shown in figure 1. BTE of diesel is higher than that of all other fuels due to its higher calorific value.

Figure 1: Brake Thermal Efficiency versus Load

Most of the blends exhibited higher brake thermal efficiencies than pure biodiesel. This is
because the addition of DEE reduces the viscosity which in turn increases the atomization [7]. This
leads to the enhancement of combustion. Among the blends the highest BTE is 29.9% for 20% DEE
blend. This is 5% more than that of biodiesel at full load, 15% DEE blend showed 4% increase. DEE
blend beyond 20% created vapour locking problems in the fuel line leading to fluctuations in the speed
and power of the engine and could not be tried.

3.2. Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) Emissions

In case of biodiesel burning continuously even during exhaust, due to its heavier molecules, exhaust
temperature increases and this is the cause for higher content of NOx compared to diesel[10] as shown
in figure 2.By oxidation, the atmospheric nitrogen forms NOx at sufficiently high
temperatures[11&12]. NOx emissions of the blends were found to reduce with increasing blend
Study of Performance and Emission Characteristics of a Diesel Engine
using Thevetia Peruviana Biodiesel with
Diethyl Ether blends 566

percentage of DEE with biodiesel. This is because high latent heat of vaporisation of DEE reduces the
combustion temperature which is the cause for reduced emission of NOx[8].

Figure 2: Nitrogen Oxide versus Load

Another reason may be due to higher cetane number of DEE (>125) which created the shorter
ignition delay period, reducing the chance of burning being extended to exhaust stroke. This is evident
from exhaust gas temperature plot (figure 3) wherein reduced temperature levels were seen for the
blends as compared to pure biodiesel

Figure 3: Exhaust Gas Temperature versus Load

Reduction of 15% in NOx emission is observed for 20% DEE blend at full load which is the
highest, while 15% blend shows a slightly less emission of 14%.
567 T.K.Kannan and R.Marappan

3.4. Hydro Carbon (HC) Emissions

Figure 4: Hydro Carbon versus Load

The emissions of HC are found to decrease for both diesel and biodiesel initially and they get
increased with increasing loads as shown in figure 4. The HC emissions of biodiesel are less compared
with diesel due to its efficient burning.The addition of DEE with biodiesel increases the HC emissions
than biodiesel.This is because the high latent heat of evaporation of DEE causes the vaporisation of
DEE in a slow manner and hence it creates incomplete combustion[7].

3.5. Smoke opacity

Usually the smoke opacity of any fuel is increases while the load is increased. The smoke opacity of
biodiesel is higher than that of diesel due to heavier molecules [10]. The addition of DEE with
biodiesel reduces the smoke opacity for most of the blends than biodiesel as shown in figure 5.

Figure 5: Smoke opacity versus load

This is because higher oxygen content of DEE depromotes the formation of smoke during the
diffusion phase of combustion[8]. Reduction of 14.63% in smoke opacity is observed for 20% DEE
blend at full load than for biodiesel which is the highest,while 15% blend shows a reduction in smoke
opacity of 9.75%.
Study of Performance and Emission Characteristics of a Diesel Engine
using Thevetia Peruviana Biodiesel with
Diethyl Ether blends 568

3.6. Cylinder Pressure

The variation of pressure with crank angle for different blend ratios has been shown in figure 6. The
higher cetane number of DEE shortens the ignition delay period when it is added to biodiesel[13].The
ignition delay period of 20% DEE blend at full load is 12.7 degree where as for biodiesel it is 13.1
degree. The shortened ignition delay period reduces the maximum pressure and temperature for the
DEE blends when compared with diesel and biodiesel. It is observed that 20% DEE blend has the
maximum pressure of 47.24 bar which is the least of other combinations.

Figure 6: Pressure versus Crank angle

3.7. Rate of heat release

The variation of heat release rate with crank angle for different blend ratios has been shown in figure 7.

Figure 7: Heat release rate versus Crank angle

569 T.K.Kannan and R.Marappan

DEE blends decreases the heat release rate. As discussed already, the reduction in ignition
delay period minimizes the heat release rate.This is proved for 20% DEE blend for which maximum
heat release rate is 23.57 J/deg.This is the least of all other combinations.

4. Conclusions
Thevetia Peruviana biodiesel was prepared in the laboratory and it was observed that the properties
were comparable with diesel.
DEE was added in the ratios of 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% with biodiesel and the properties of
DEE blends were determined.
Addition of DEE with biodiesel decreased the viscosity and thereby increased the atomization
of air fuel mixture. This was the cause for the enhancement of BTE. The highest BTE was obtained for
20% DEE among the blends. The BTE of 20% DEE blend was 29.9% at full load which was 5%
higher than biodiesel.
Higher values of Cetane number and latent heat of vaporization of DEE led to shorter ignition
delay period and reduced combustion temperature respectively. These parameters reduced the emission
of NOx. While compared with biodiesel, reduction of 15% of NOx emission was observed for 20%
DEE blends at full load which was the highest reduction among the blends.
The higher oxygen content of DEE reduced the smoke opacity. Reduction of 14.63% of smoke
opacity was observed for 20%DEE blends than for biodiesel at full load.
HC emissions were found to increase by the addition of DEE with biodiesel.
Reductions in peak pressure and heat release rate were found due to the increase in percentage
of DEE blends.
From the detailed study, it has been concluded that 20% DEE blend with Thevetia peruviana
biodiesel would result in better performance and lesser emissions.
Study of Performance and Emission Characteristics of a Diesel Engine
using Thevetia Peruviana Biodiesel with
Diethyl Ether blends 570

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